cheap customers

[electricalperson]

has anyone ever dealt with customers that question every charge on the bill? do they ever call up and say they seen the same receptacle at home depot for 20 cents and wonder why they charged him 5 dollars?

i know a guy that calls up all of his contractors and asks them why they are charging him so much for certain products when home depot has them for cheaper

i know what i would do but im just wondering what everyone else does. i have a feeling i know what everyone else will do too

 

[480sparky]

Simple solution: Don't itemize.

"Install receptacle in kitchen, replace ceiling fan in bedroom, add WP receptacle in deck. Total price $NNN.NN"

Simply give them a price. If they want an itemization, tell them you don't do it.

 

[electricalperson]

Simple solution: Don't itemize.

"Install receptacle in kitchen, replace ceiling fan in bedroom, add WP receptacle in deck. Total price $NNN.NN"

Simply give them a price. If they want an itemization, tell them you don't do it.

what if they ask what you charge an hour? or what you charge per job?

 

[peter d]

what if they ask what you charge an hour? or what you charge per job?

Tell them it's a secret and it's not their business. If they want a lower price tell them to shop around. If they don't like the price after the fact (and they signed a contract or you made an agreement with them), then too bad for them.

 

[480sparky]

what if they ask what you charge an hour? or what you charge per job?

If they ask my hourly rate, I will tell them, along with "But you need to understand two things. Hourly rate means nothing if I charge X for my labor and mark-up material XX percent, yet Joe Blow only charges Y per hour and triples his material cost. Besides, how do you know who works faster and more effecient, me or Joe?"

If I charge $100 an hour and get the job done in two hours, am I more expensive than Joe who charges 60 and takes 8 hours?

 

[peter d]

what if they ask what you charge an hour? or what you charge per job?

Ask them if they go to the managers office at Stop and Shop and demand to know what they paid for all the merchandise in the store.

 

[480sparky]

Last time I went to the doctors office for a prescription, it didn't take him much of an education to write out the script. Any 3rd grader could have done it.

But it's his education and training that's backing up his prescription is why he charges what he does. The knowledge he has accumulated over the years is well worth the money I pay because I am dealing with a professional who knows not only what to write down, but why.

 

[hillbilly1]

Ask them if they go to the managers office at Stop and Shop and demand to know what they paid for all the merchandise in the store.

Hey, that's "Stop and Rob"

 

[peter d]

Hey, that's "Stop and Rob"

LOL. I called it by name because Electricalperson is from Massachusetts and he would know what I'm talking about.

 

[electricalperson]

LOL. I called it by name because Electricalperson is from Massachusetts and he would know what I'm talking about.

theres one right down the street from me. i can throw a rock and hit it. i get my 50 cent gallons of gas there

 

[Kdog76]

But it's his education and training that's backing up his prescription is why he charges what he does. The knowledge he has accumulated over the years is well worth the money I pay because I am dealing with a professional who knows not only what to write down, but why.

Yep, and that's the part customers don't get.

 

[satcom]

Last time I went to the doctors office for a prescription, it didn't take him much of an education to write out the script. Any 3rd grader could have done it.

But it's his education and training that's backing up his prescription is why he charges what he does. The knowledge he has accumulated over the years is well worth the money I pay because I am dealing with a professional who knows not only what to write down, but why.

The reason most people have trouble reading the scpipt is, The Doctor writes I took him for $100 now you take him for $50!

 

[MF Dagger]

has anyone ever dealt with customers that question every charge on the bill? do they ever call up and say they seen the same receptacle at home depot for 20 cents and wonder why they charged him 5 dollars?
o

I pay 20 bucks to have a 3 dollar pizza delivered to my house, throw on the tip and it hits 25. Tell him you can charge him for parts at cost but your hourly rate for those scenarios is 500 an hour.

 

[480sparky]

The reason most people have trouble reading the scpipt is, The Doctor writes I took him for $100 now you take him for $50!

I'd be lying if i said I undertand this.

 

[brantmacga]

I itemize my invoices. I really haven't had too many problems; i give a total cost up-front and if they think its too high, they go elsewhere. Its no different than shopping at a retail store; they customer sees a price tag and makes a decision on whether or not they can afford it.

I don't charge by the hour, so its easy to deflect that question.

 

[brantmacga]

I'd be lying if i said I undertand this.

The prescription paper the doctor writes is a secret code between him and the pharmacist advising how much they should rip off the patient.

 

[steelersman]

I'd be lying if i said I undertand this.

no doubt. That's some of the most garbled English I've ever seen. Maybe if I drink a gallon of whiskey then I will comprehend it.

 

[bradleyelectric]

I itemize my invoices. I really haven't had too many problems; i give a total cost up-front and if they think its too high, they go elsewhere. Its no different than shopping at a retail store; they customer sees a price tag and makes a decision on whether or not they can afford it.

I don't charge by the hour, so its easy to deflect that question.

If you already give a price up front why would you bother to write anything other than a detailed description of what you did and the amount owed? I don't see any reason to write a detail of what you used in order to accomplish the tasks.

 

[480sparky]

The prescription paper the doctor writes is a secret code between him and the pharmacist advising how much they should rip off the patient.

I didn't think Latin was a 'secret code'.

 

[tonyou812]

Tell them it's a secret and it's not their business. If they want a lower price tell them to shop around. If they don't like the price after the fact (and they signed a contract or you made an agreement with them), then too bad for them.

oh peter !!!